NER Joint Leadership Retreats are back this fall and throughout the next church year! If you are current staff, Board, or leadership please check your email for more information. To ensure this opportunity is more accessible, our Joint Leadership Retreats will be offered in three formats:

More information is available on our website. We will continue to send updates via email as well as list new information on the website as it is available. Registration opens soon!

Please also check out our newly published 2025-2026 Board Retreat Template.

NER staff Emily Cherry will host another support gathering for congregational staff who identify as LGBTQIA+ on Thursday, August 21 from 10:00 to 11:00am.

As NER Regional Lead Evin Carvill Ziemer shared a few months ago, we also strongly encourage congregational staff to be members of their professional organizations as well: Religious educators have LREDA. Musicians have AUUMM. Administrators have AUUA. Membership professionals have UUAMP. BIPOC folks can build connections with DRUUMM. Black UUs can find community in BLUU. Disabled folks and allies may turn to EqUUal Access. And if you’re trans, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming, TRUUsT is here for you, too.

NER staff are here for you as you prepare for another church year. We invite you to get in touch with us if you could use some more support; if you don’t know your congregation’s primary contact, you can contact them here.

Does your congregation or community center offer OWL? Want to? Are you seeking another congregation to collaborate with, or do you have members curious where they can bring their children to participate in the program?

Please fill out this form to share your congregation's information with the New England Region. This information is shared to help congregations that are offering OWL and those seeking OWL find one another to work collaboratively. All information is self-reported by the congregation and we rely on congregations to send us updates of their information as necessary. Submitted information will be available via our website.

Thank you to all our congregations that participated this past church year. Even if your offerings will be the same for the next church cycle, please re-submit the listing.

Back by popular demand: NER posters! Get a sneak peek! These posters were sent out to our member congregations in late July. We hope you enjoy them, and, if you have the poster hanging somewhere please do send us a picture of your folks with it!

Join Side With Love’s monthly event to strengthen your spirit, make sense of the threats to democracy, and take meaningful action alongside others! We have two live versions every month, and you can watch or share the recording with your congregation afterwards.

And, in case you missed it, please also read this statement: Side With Love Denounces IRS Decision Undermining Johnson Amendment, Reaffirms Church-State Separation.

Designed for small congregations, lay-led congregations, congregations with part-time ministry, and any congregation that is seeking resources for worship, Congregational Life’s Sermon of the Month Series is a monthly subscription service that provides recorded sermons congregations can download and use for worship. Along with a transcript of the sermon, each month’s offering will include suggested readings and hymns. Check out the archives to see our past offerings.

Learn more and register on the UUA website.

Do you have questions about what makes a pledge drive effective today? Join us for a three-session webinar designed for stewardship teams engaged in a spring pledge drive. We will explore current congregational giving trends, pledge drive practices that are working, and examples of real UU congregations who have experienced pledge drive successes.

Note, congregations must register as teams, with three people per congregational team. Don’t know your team members yet? Register anyway and send your team the registration form when you know.

Register and learn more on the UUA website. The registration deadline is Friday, October 3.

The UUA needs your input this fall! Join a one-time wave cohort to envision the most effective interventions that Congregational Life Field Staff can make in the lives of our congregations and communities. Your session will help you imagine what helps a UU community flourish and how that process might be aided by Congregational Life work.

Pick the most appropriate group for you (just one!) from these options, register using the links below*:

The data generated from these events will help the UUA Congregational Life team determine priorities and focus in our next chapter. We look forward to gathering with you soon!

*if you can’t make the designated time for your grouping, please email Rev. Dr. Megan Foley for an alternative way to provide your input.

Please share with youth and emerging adults! This is a time sensitive opportunity.

UU congregations, communities, or individuals who have projects or events that center the spiritual needs of UU youth and/or emerging adults can now apply for Seed Grants and Partnership Grants. More information about the grants and application processes is available on the UUA website. The application deadline is Friday, August 15 for September 15 funds disbursement.  

Come shape the future of UU faith development! All who've benefitted from and care about UU faith development are welcome: parents, youth, adults, lay leaders, volunteers, and religious professionals. This October summit will focus on the faith formation needs of this current moment and your particular context - both big picture models and specific activities and topics. Come share what you know, learn from each other, and help us map the landscape of innovations that are working in UUism.

Check the UUA website for more information. Registration links coming soon! If you have questions please email Erica Baron.

Want to grow a community of spiritually grounded, safe adults for youth in your congregation? Lifespan Faith Engagement invites you to a one-day immersive gathering for those curious about youth advising or becoming more supportive adults. Explore trust, spiritual depth, and inclusive facilitation through hands-on activities and conversation. You’ll leave with tools to lead youth group gatherings and deepen intergenerational community. 

Optional pre-work, in-person training with UUA and local leaders, and a follow-up worship integration are included. Snacks, supplies, and encouragement provided. Email youth@uua.org for more information and to book a training.